MASA MASID gets a boost

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna -- The city government will fully implement the MASA MASID (Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw Sa iIigal na Droga) Program of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) under its revised guidelines with the provision of dedicated communication equipment and personnel working 24/7. Lenie Bautista, DILG city director, told PNA the city’s implementation of the mass-based program against anomalies, corruption, illegal drugs and criminality will have “dedicated communication equipment such as cellphones and landline and the addition of three personnel on Job Order basis working in shifts to ensure full implementation of the MASA MASID Program.” Bautista was one of the conferees during the joint meeting of the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) and City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) held at the Mayor’s Conference Room at the city hall here where she expounded on the new guidelines on the implementation of the MASA MASID Program. The DILG city program is anchored on advocacy and reporting systems after the 54 barangays here have already formed their respective MASA MASID Team (MMT) and MASA MASID Volunteers (MMV), and the required composition of the Technical Working Group (TWG) and the Steering Committee. She clarified during the meeting that the modes of reporting as required include a hotline, a dedicated landline or cellphone number for MASA MASID reports lodged at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Station working 24/7; an electronic mail (Email); Short Messaging System (SMS); and a drop box to be installed in the barangay and PNP stations, following a standard reporting form. Upon receipt of the report from MMT, Bautista said, the TWG would sort out, validate and relay the reports to concerned agencies. On matters related to criminality will be relayed to the PNP; on illegal drugs to the PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA); on anomaly and corruption to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) or to the SangguniangPanlungsod (Legislative Council); and on violent extremism to the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), for appropriate actions. She explained further that MASA MASID may avert entry of groups or individuals who wish to spread fear in the community thus violent extremism and other threats to peace and security have been added as concerns to protect the community. Meanwhile, Allan Zacharias, city administrator and presiding officer, has endorsed the request of Bautista who also heads the TWG for the full implementation of the MASA MASID Program in the city. (Zen Trinidad/PNA)